PCS votes for walkouts and could strike on budget day

Leaders of the PCS civil service union were debating a programme of strikes as Socialist Worker went to press.

A quarter of a million PCS members backed strikes by 61 percent in a recent ballot.

They also backed action short of a strike by 80 percent.

The turnout was 28 percent.

Workers are fighting attacks on their pensions, pay, jobs and conditions.

Sue Bond is on the PCS national executive committee.

She told Socialist Worker, “PCS members have given a clear, decisive signal that they are prepared to fight back.

“We can now launch a sustained campaign of industrial action against the attacks on workers.

“The vote shows the government that we are not going to take this.

“I hope that other union members will support us and join the fightback.”

The PCS could call a strike on budget day, 20 March.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said the union will call “a series of walkouts”.

The PCS said that the real value of wages has dropped by 7 percent since 2008 and has called for a 5 percent pay rise.

The Tories have refused to negotiate.